298 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



grown, and ought not to be palmed oil on an unsuspecting public to the 

 possible injury of health and to the certain injury of markets and the discredit 

 of good fruit; (2) that diseased trees speedily become unfruitful and ^rorth- 

 less, and consequently have from the start only a small money value. Neither 

 of these propositions can be disputed, and together they meet and fully 

 answer this objection, which, moreover, is of small weight in comparison 

 with the reasons assigned for action. 



In my judgment the prompt destruction of affected trees by fire, if 

 practiced throughout a community, will greatly hinder the progress of the 

 disease. With the utmost cure cases will appear from time to tinii', more 

 some years than others, but there will be no outbreak comparable to an epi- 

 demic. At least such has been the experience in communities which have 

 practiced this method from the first appearance of the disease. Whether a 

 locality which has once suffered disastrously can again become a ])rofitable 

 region by the strict enforcement of this method remains to be seen. The 

 results at Jienton Harbor and Saint Joseph, Mich., where this is being tried, 

 will be watched during the next few years with the greatest interest. 

 Accoiding to It. Morrill, of Benton Harbor, 300,000 peach tress have been 

 set in the vicinity of that place during the past three years, and no yellows 

 has yet appeared. 



It will not, however, be of much permanent benefit, I conceive, for one 

 man or a few men to remove their trees while the rest of the community 

 neglect to do so. In the union of all fruit growers there is strength and 

 safety. If this method of restriction is to be given a fair trial it must be 

 supported by a strong public sentiment, backed by a suitable law. 



Where it is not possible to make a law apply to an entire State, on account 

 of sectional opposition, it might at first be made to apply only to the regions 

 least affected, as in case of the Michigan law of 1875. 



CONCLUSIONS AS TO THE CAUSE OF YELLOWS. 

 HYPOTHESES KULED OUT, 



From what precedes we are reasonably safe in concluding that yellows is 

 not due to climatic influences. Frosts, floods, and drouths may be modify- 

 ing influences, but are nothing more. Injuries by men, quadrupeds, and 

 borers may also be included in the list of disproved theories. They stand in 

 no casual relation to this disease. To the same category may be added 

 excessive cultivation, neglect of cultivation, and neglect of pruning. So also 

 injury to tap-roots, propagation by buds rather than by seeds, defective 

 drainage, use of animal manures, etc. Some of these things may favor the 

 development of peach yellows, but I think none of them can cause it. The 

 evidence here set forth seems to establish this beyond reasonable doubt. 

 Probably most of my readers will be ready to admit that soil exhaustion is 

 also an unsatisfactory explanation. As the case now strands, this theory 

 must beset aside as untenable. At least, we need give no further attention 

 until more and stronger evidence is adduced in its favor. I write this with 

 regret, for I hoped to be able to confirm this view, as it would have offered 

 an easy and practical solution of the whole difficulty. 



